I understand coping skill to be something other than pacifying myself so I don't react harmfully to a feeling. That, to me, is a coping mechanism.
A skill is something I can use in the real world. I avoided any confrontation like the plague when I was using. just refused to deal
Coping skills are the things I use to deal with the world rather than run from it. So, to me a coping skill is paying my bills, remembering a birthday of a friend, going to the dr when I am ill and for my checkups. Those things address real life, and thus reduce the number of "freak outs" due to NOT addressing life.
The greatest coping skill I have learned it to accept reality, and act accordingly.